Protein and metabolic profiles of tyrosine kinase inhibitors co-resistant liver cancer cells.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) patients often develop resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) like sorafenib (SR) and lenvatinib (RR). We established HCC cell lines resistant to these drugs and analyzed the correlation between protein and metabolite profiles using bioinformatics. Our analysis revealed overexpression of MISP, CHMP2B, IL-18, TMSB4X, and EFEMP1, and downregulation of IFITM3, CA4, AGR2, and SLC51B in drug-resistant cells. Differential signals are mainly enriched in steroid hormone biosynthesis, cell adhesion, and immune synapses, with metabolic pathways including cytochrome P450 drug metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and glycolysis. Proteomics and metabolomics analysis showed co-enrichment signals in drug metabolism, amino acids, glucose metabolism, ferroptosis, and other biological processes. Knocking down MISP, CHMP2B, IL-18, TMSB4X, and EFEMP1 significantly reduced drug resistance, indicating their potential as therapeutic response biomarkers. This study characterizes protein and metabolic profiles of drug-resistant HCC cells, exploring metabolite-protein relationships to enhance understanding of drug resistance mechanisms and clinical treatment.

GJA1 reverses arsenic-induced EMT via modulating MAPK/ERK signaling pathway.

Arsenic is known as a well-established human carcinogen. Gap Junction Protein Alpha 1 (GJA1) is a multifunction protein that forms gap junction channels and is important for intercellular communication. Recently, its aberrant expression has been shown to associate with cancer recurrence and metastatic spread. However, whether GJA1 plays a role in arsenic carcinogenesis remains unknown. Here, we demonstrated that chronic exposure of human bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cells to sodium arsenite promoted epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) via increasing the expression of EMT inducer S100A4 and activation of MAPK/ERK signaling. In vitro and in vivo experiments showed that chronic exposure to sodium arsenite reduced GJA1 expression. Forced expression of GJA1 inhibited sodium arsenite-induced EMT via suppressing MAPK/ERK signaling whereas GJA1 knockdown produced an opposite effect. Intriguingly, chronic exposure to sodium arsenite increased autophagy flux. Inhibition of autophagy by pharmacological intervention or genetic deletion of autophagy core gene Beclin-1 upregulated GJA1 expression. These results suggested that GJA1 restrained the carcinogenic effect of sodium arsenite by limiting MAPK/ERK signaling, and GJA1 expression was decreased by arsenic-activated autophagy. In addition, interventions directed at enhancing the level or functional activity of GJA1 could be of preventive and therapeutic interest.

Ethanol Exposure Up-Regulates PD-L1/PD-1 Immune Checkpoint Pathway and Promotes Mammary Tumor Development.

Alcohol consumption in women enhances breast cancer incidence and ethanol is the main causal factor. Compromised host immunity through immunosuppression facilitates the development of many types of cancer, including breast cancer. Immune cells in breast tissues, particularly tumor-infiltrating CD8 cytotoxic T cells, play a critical role in the host anti-tumor immunity against breast tumorigenesis. These cytotoxic T cells are the major immune cells to carry out anti-tumor immunity through their cytotoxic effector function, which can be regulated by immune checkpoint pathways. The PD-1/PD-L1 pathway (the interaction between programmed death-1, PD-1, and its ligand, programmed death-ligand 1, PD-L1) is the best characterized one. However, the effects of ethanol exposure on T cell anti-tumor immunity and how that may contribute to ethanol-enhanced mammary tumorigenicity remain unknown. FVB.Cg-Tg(Wnt1)1Hev/J transgenic mice develop spontaneous mammary tumors starting around the age of 2-3 months and have been a widely-used mouse model for breast cancer research. Using this mouse model, the current study determined the effects of ethanol on the PD-L1/PD-1 pathway and how that may contribute to mammary tumorigenesis. The results indicated that ethanol exposure enhanced mammary tumor formation accompanied with an up-regulation of PD-1/PD-L1 pathway (increased PD-L1 levels in tumor tissue cells and the amount of PD-1-expressing tumor-infiltrating CD8 T cells) and inhibited T cell anti-tumor function, while inhibition of PD-1/PD-L1 restored T cell anti-tumor effector function and mitigated ethanol-enhanced tumorigenesis.

Plasma fibronectin can affect the cytokine profile and monocytes/macrophages function in addition to predicting the prognosis of advanced sepsis.

The value of plasma fibronectin (pFN) in the diagnosis and prognosis of sepsis has not been fully established. Previous studies finding that pFN is significantly reduced in sepsis, however, whether reduced pFn affects the prognosis of sepsis has not been clarified. Here, we detected and analyzed pFN and other conventional inflammatory markers in advanced sepsis patients and performed correlation analysis with SOFA score. We also used Fn gene conditional knockout mice which were performed by cecum ligation and puncture (CLP) to investigate the effect of FN deficiency on sepsis prognosis. We found, compared with procalcitonin, c-reactive protein, and interleukin-6, pFN was more correlated with SOFA score in advanced sepsis patients (r -.720, p < .001). In animal experiments, Fn gene knockout mice showed significantly greater mortality after CLP compared with the control group because of inhibited phagocytosis and bacterial clearance ability of macrophages, with double cytokine storm. Furthermore, FN can regulate macrophages through the integrin α5ß1/Fak/Src signaling pathway. Overall, we found pFN can more accurately reflect the severity and prognosis of advanced sepsis. The absence of FN altered the cytokine storm and phagocytic function of macrophages, suggesting that FN could be a potential therapeutic target in sepsis.

The role of PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint in arsenic lung tumorigenesis.

Chronic exposure to environmental arsenic promotes lung cancer. Emerging evidence indicates that compromised host immunity, particularly T cell anti-tumor immunity, may play a critical role in cancer development. However, there is a knowledge gap in terms of the effects of arsenic exposure on T cell anti-tumor immunity and how that may contribute to arsenic lung carcinogenicity. Immunosuppression has been known as a risk factor for many types of cancer, including lung cancer. The development of cancer indicates the success of immunosuppression and escape of cancer cells from host anti-tumor immunity in which T cells are the major component. The anti-tumor immunity is mainly executed by CD8 cytotoxic T cells through their anti-tumor effector function, which can be regulated by immune checkpoint pathways. Some inhibitory receptors on the T cell membrane and their ligands form these pathways, among which programmed death-1 (PD-1), a T cell inhibitory receptor, and its ligand, programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), are best characterized. A/J mice are naturally sensitive to pulmonary carcinogens, prone to develop spontaneous lung tumors later in life and have been frequently used as an animal model for lung tumorigenesis research. Chronic arsenic administration through drinking water has been shown to enhance tumor formation in the lungs of A/J mice. In the current study, using this mouse model we want to determine whether PD-1/PD-L1 plays a role in arsenic-enhanced lung tumorigenesis. The results showed that prolonged arsenic exposure up-regulated PD-1/PD-L1, increased regulatory T cells (Tregs), decreased CD8/Treg ratio, inhibited T cell antitumor function in the lungs and enhanced lung tumor formation, while inhibition of PD-1/PD-L1 restored CD8/Treg ratio and T cell anti-tumor effector function, and mitigated arsenic-enhanced lung tumorigenesis. In addition, inhibition of PD-1/PD-L1 could be a potential preventive strategy to mitigate the tumorigenic action of chronic arsenic exposure.

Interleukin 33 mediates hepatocyte autophagy and innate immune response in the early phase of acetaminophen-induced acute liver injury.

Despite interleukin 33 (IL-33) functions as an "alarmin" released from hepatic dead cells in response to tissue damages, the interrelationship between IL-33-mediated hepatocyte autophagy and innate immune response in the acetaminophen (APAP)-induced liver injury (AILI) process remains obscure. This study aimed to explore the regulation of IL-33 on hepatocyte autophagy and macrophage polarization after APAP challenge in vivo and vitro. We found IL-33 released from hepatic necrosis was elevated in the AILI mouse model. Blockage of IL-33 exacerbated liver injury by consuming liver-resident macrophages cells (Kupffer cells, KCs) and promoting hepatic inflammatory factors secretion, such as TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1ß in the early phase of liver injury. Interestingly, IL-33 deficiency further activated hepatocyte autophagy and disrupted M2 macrophage polarization post-APAP challenge in vivo and vitro, which can be reversed by recombinant IL-33 treatment. Mechanistically, administration of IL-33 can directly enhance M2 polarization via PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and activate protective hepatocyte autophagy via AMPKα/mTOR signaling pathway in the AILI process. In conclusion, our data firstly demonstrates that IL-33 exerts protective effects on hepatocytes through the activation of autophagy and functions as an innate immunity regulator mediating macrophage polarization in the early phase of AILI.

Autophagy mediates bronchial cell malignant transformation induced by chronic arsenic exposure via MEK/ERK1/2 pathway.

Chronic exposure to arsenic increases the risk of developing a variety of human cancers including lung carcinomas. However, the exact molecular mechanism underlying arsenic carcinogenicity remains largely unknown. Autophagy is a conserved catabolic process for maintaining cellular protein homeostasis whose defects might result in accumulation of dysfunctional organelles and damaged proteins thus promoting tumorigenesis. In the present study, we found that chronic exposure of human bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cells to sub-lethal dose of sodium arsenite led to autophagy activation and induced an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) to enhance cell migratory and invasive capability. The malignant transformation was mediated via activation of MEK/ERK1/2 signaling. Importantly, inhibition of autophagy in these arsenic-exposed cells by pharmacological intervention or genetic deletion further promoted the EMT and increased the generation of inflammasomes. Both autophagy inhibitor and genetic deletion of autophagy core gene Beclin-1 produced similar effects. These results may suggest the important role of autophagy in sodium arsenite-induced lung tumorigenesis which may serve as a potential target in prevention and treatment of arsenic-imposed lung cancer.

Hepatocyte growth factor promotes proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of myeloid leukemia cells through PI3K-AKT and MAPK/ERK signaling pathway.

This study aims to investigate effects of HGF expression on biological behaviors of Kasumi-1 and HL60. Expression of HGF and c-Met gene were detected using qRT-PCR. Short hairpin RNA (shRNA) was used to reduce HGF expression. Silencing effect of shRNA was verified by qRT-PCR and western blot. Cell reproductive capacity, cell clonality and cell cycle (apoptosis) were detected by CCK-8, clone formation, flow cytometry (FCM), respectively. Cell adhesion, cell invasion ability and cell proliferation were also examined. Changes of PI3K-AKT, MAPK/ERK signaling factors were detected by western blot. HGF and c-Met expression in first-vist AML group was significantly higher than in AML-relief and normal control group. HGF shRNA can inhibit cell proliferation, inhibit cloning ability. Compared with control group, apoptosis ratios of Kasumi-1 and HL60 cell in interference groups were significantly higher. After shRNA interference, the number of adherent cells and transmembrane cells were significantly decreased compared with control group. Meanwhile, shRNA also down-regulated Bad, Bcl-XL, Bcl-2, CDK1, Cyclin B, MMP2, MMP9, and up-regulated cleaved caspase9, cleaved caspase3, cleaved PARP, Bax, and P21. Moreover, phosphorylated c-Met, AKT, Erk, and mTOR were also reduced. In conclusion, HGF and c-Met gene highly expressed among first-visit AML patients, but decreased after relief treatment. HGF may promote proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of AML cells through PI3K-AKT and MAPK/ERK signaling pathway. Therefore, proliferation and invasion ability of AML cell can be inhibited by down-regulating HGF gene to retardate cell in G2/M stage.

Aggressive fibromatosis of the leg and sacrococcygeal region: a report of two cases.

Aggressive fibromatosis is a rare soft tissue tumor that composes of myofibroblasts that arise from musculoaponeurotic structures. It usually affects the abdominal wall but may be also found in other less common sites including the head and neck, submucosa of the oral cavity, spinal, haunch and limbs, especially, the limbs and sacrococcygeal region are rare locations. We described two cases of aggressive fibromatosis. One was 3-year-old girl with aggressive fibromatosis arising from the right leg region. The other was 20-year-old female arising from in the sacrococcygeal region. They were resected with satisfied results. Pathological examination showed that they were composed of fibroblasts, fibrocytes and bundles of collagen fiber. The aggressive fibromatosis, although rare, should be differentiated from some other soft tissue tumors with similar histological features and different localizations of intra-abdominal, abdominal wall and extra-abdominal.

Autophagy-mediated HMGB1 release promotes gastric cancer cell survival via RAGE activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2.

High mobility group box-B1 (HMGB1), an autophagy activator, is crucial in tumorigenesis. However, its extracellular role and signaling in gastric cancer remain unclear. Samples were collected from gastric cancer patients and healthy controls. Immunohistochemistry and immunocytochemistry were used to determine the localization of HMGB1 in gastric cancer tissues, four gastric carcinoma cell lines (BGC-823, SGC-7901, MKN-28 and MKN-45) and a gastric epithelial cell line GES-1. Western blot analysis and ELISA were used to assess the effects of gefitinib, an epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor, on autophagy and HMGB1 release in BGC-823 cells. MTT assay and western blot analysis assessed the effects of extracellular HMGB1 on cell proliferation and signaling transduction. Released HMGB1 promoted proliferation through activation of ERK1/2 MAPK. HMGB1 expression in gastric cancer tissues and serum was significantly increased compared to the controls and healthy serum. Gastric carcinoma cells showed an increased HMGB1 in the nuclei and cytoplasm, whereas GES-1 cells exhibited a lower HMGB1 with nuclear localization. Gefitinib increased autophagy and cytoplasmic HMGB1 release from the BGC-823 cells. Extracellular HMGB1 in autophagic cell supernatant promoted proliferation that was abolished by glycyrrhizic acid, an HMGB1 inhibitor. BGC-823 cells incubated with HMGB1 had increased ERK1/2 phosphorylation, while levels of JNK, p38 or AKT were not affected. Blocking RAGE­HMGB1 interaction with antibody or siRNA suppressed the ERK1/2 activation and gastric cancer cell growth, indicating that RAGE-mediated ERK1/2 signaling was necessary for tumor progression.